Buoyant trade for pedigree and commercial Simmental females

Pedigree trade reached a ceiling at 2,200gns twice, while the commercial entry saw heifers command £690 over weight, and in-calf heifers peak at £1,200.

Topping the pedigree offering at 2,200gns was the third placed Drumacritten Georgina bred by William and George Nelson, Rosslea, Co Fermanagh.

Sired by the 2014 Balmoral Show champion Dermotstown Delboy, she is out of a home-bred dam by the herd’s jointly owned 10,000gns stock bull Drumlone Anchor – Perth champion in 2010. This seventeen-month-old heifer was snapped up by T Reilly from Madden, Keady, Co Armagh.

Also catching Mr Reilly’s eye at 2,200gns was the unshown Castlemount Chrissy 3 from Duncan McDowell’s herd in Newtownards.

Sired by the Curaheen Vio son Longbeach Darius, this June 2015 born heifer was bred from a dam by the 15,000gns Cairnview Snazzy.

Next best at 1,900gns was the first prize winning Drumacritten Glenda consigned by the Nelson family. Born in July 2015, she was sired by the Cleenagh Flasher son Omorga Volvo. Her dam is the Leeherd Woodstock daughter Drumacritten Christina. This one also joins Mr Reilly’s County Armagh herd.

Judge Jonny Hazelton awarded the day’s championship ribbons, sponsored by Bimeda, to Stranlongford Grace, a maiden heifer from James Hanna’s herd at Trillick, Co Tyrone.

Alan Shortt exhibited the reserve champion Ballymoney Gertrude bred by Noel and Mae Kilpatrick.

Sired by the Raceview King son Ashland Brandy, she is out of a home-bred dam by the Irish-bred Seaview Lazer.

This one failed to meet her reserve and was withdrawn unsold at 2,600gns.

Noel and Mae Kilpatrick, Banbridge, claimed the reserve championship with the Celtic Rock daughter Ballymoney Gertrude.

Born in February 2015, she is bred from a Lisglass Trident daughter carrying the Ballyvallough prefix. This one changed hands at 1,400gns, selling to David Osborne from Dromore, Co Down.

NI Simmental Club chairman Matthew Cunning, centre, is pictured at the autumn show and sale with sponsor Kevin McAnenly, Bimeda; and judge Jonny Hazelton, Dungannon. Picture: Julie Hazelton

A draft entry from Malachy Connolly’s Clogher-based Castlehill herd peaked at 1,600gns, realised by the January 2014 born Castlehill Fantasia.

Sired by the home-bred Sterling Parliamentarian son Castlehill Darius, she is bred from a Brinkton Brilliant dam, and is in-calf to Sacombe Edgar. Buyer was Michael Carr from Newry, Co Down.

In the commercial salering in-calf heifers sold to a top of £1,200, paid to Seamus Casey, Dungannon. Mr Casey also realised £1,160 and £1,120 for in-calf heifers.

Maiden heifers peaked at £690 over weight, paid to William Ferguson, Stewartstown, for a 490kgs heifer at £1,180 (241).

The same vendor realised £680 over weight for a 500kgs heifer at £1,180 (236), and £670 over weight for a 510kgs heifer at £1,180 (231).

Duncan McDowell realised £1,060 for a 445kgs heifer (238); while Malcolm Thom, Cookstown, sold a 440kgs heifer for £1,020 (232).

Averages: 10 pedigree heifers £1,617 (77%); 9 commercial in-calf heifers £1,097; 12 commercial maiden heifers £975.